Ashington



W. BOWDEN.

LIQUlD METER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-15.1918.

131x81. Y Patented Aug. 5,1919;

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-. wAsmNGToN, D. c.

w. BOWDEN.

LIQUID METER.

. APPLICATION FILED on. 15. 1918.. 1 3 12,23 1 Patented Aug. 5, 1919..

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[RT/6111.0 r:

I Z 52's Ailo rzzeys THE COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH co., wAsHlNd'roN, B. 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM nownnn, onivmnjorins'rnn, mma.

mourn-MET R. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BoWDEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a residentof Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Liquid-Meters, of which the fol lowing is aspecification. 1

This invention relates to meters for delivering measured quantities ofliquids and especially to meters of the kind comprising a measuring chamber having an inlet from a storage tank or the like and an outlet to a receiving chamber or the like, valves adapted to open the inlet from the storage tank or the like to the measuringchamber and close the outlet from the latterto the receiving chamber or the like, and vice versa,alternately, and electro-magnetic devices, the circuits of which are controlled by switches actuated by variations in the level or flow of the liquid to so operate the valves. The object of the invention is to insure a quick and clean action of the switches which control thecircuits of the valve-operating electro-magnet devices.

Accordingto the invention, the circuitsof the valve-operating electro-magnetic devices are opened simultaneouslywith the operation of the valves.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the'invention in a me ter of the kind described in myflco-pending application filed 5th June 191Tunder Serial -No.172,884,Figures 1 and 2 being elevations partly in sectionand at right angles to each other, of so much of the meter as is necessary to illustrate the invention, Figs. 3 and 1 plans showingthe float-actuated switches in their different positions, Figs. 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 detached elevations at right angles to each other "of the lower and upper float actuated switch members, ;respectively, and] Fig. 9 is a diagram 1 of the electrical connections. 1 1 i Referring to the drawings, 1 is themeasuring chamber, 2 the receiving chamber, 3 the inlet to the former, 4 the outlet there. from to the receiving chamber 2, and 2 the draw-off outlet from the latter, to which the carbureter of the engine is connected;

As before,the inlet 3 and outlet 4: are controlled by valves5 and 6 respectively, op.- eratively connected by arocking lever 7 pivoted at 8 in brackets 9 on the underside of cover 10 of the chamber 1, so that when one Specification 01' essiah,

, ammin 5,1919.

Application filed October 15,1913. Serial 10,255,232.

valve is raised and opened,the other is si-- multaneously depressed and closed, and the valves 5, 6 are operated by solenoids 11, 12 respectively, on the topof the cover 10 and provided with plungers or cores 11 12 to which the stems of the valves 5 6 are connected. i i a The circuits of the solenoids 11,12 are controlled by floats 13, respectively. The lower float 13operatesin a casing 15 arranged in a chamber 16 disposed in the lower part ofthe measuring chamber 1 and extending: into the receiving chamber 2. The casing 15 communicates at the bottom with the chamber 16 by holes orpassages 15 and atthe top it communicates with the measuringchamberl bypassages 15". The chamber 16 communicates with the inlet 3 and vwith the a measuring chamber 1' by pas sages 16 at the"topandholes16 in itswall near the base of the measuring chamber.

The float 13-1is provided with a stem17 which passes freely through-holes in the top and bottom of the casing 15. The upper end of thestem'l'? is bent and co-acts with a slotted arm 7 depending fromthe rocking lever 7 f The lower end of the stem carries a switch-member 1 8 which is adapted to co-act "with contacts 19, 19? 1 having inclined or upturned ends and to whichthe conductors 20, 20 of the solenoid 11 are acts with a second slottedarm 7 dependa ing from the rocking lever and carries a switch member 23 adapted to 'co-act with contacts 24, 24 in the circuit ofthe sole noid 12 (see Fig.2) and also having inclined orupturned ends; a 1

Asshown in Fig. 9, one end of the wind ing of each of the solenoids 11, 12 is connectedito a common terminal 28 onthe cover 10, to which terminal one terminal of a battery29 or other source of electrical energy is also connectedby a lead 302* The other ends of the windings of the! solenoids 11,

12 are connected to terminals 31, i 32, respectively. The other terminalof the battery 29 isqc0nnected by a leadto a conductor 34 carrying two terminals 35, The conductor 20 connects terminal 31 to contact 19, and conductor eo -"eenaects eontact 1 9 to terminal 35. Terminal 32 is connected by conductor 37 to contact 24*, and contact 24 is connected by conductor 38 to terminal 36".- Thus the circuit through solenoid 11 is from battery or source 29;,by lead 30, terminal 28, the Winding of solenoid l1, terminal 31, conductor 20, contact 19, switch-member V 181carried ,by lower float. 13, con-tact19 conductoij 20f, terminal 35, conductor 34 and lead 33 back to the battery orso-urce 29.

The circuit. througl-r, solenoid 12 is from battery or source. 29, bylead 30,.tcrmi nal 28, the winding of solenoid 12, terminal 32, conductor 37, contact 24*, switch-member 23 carried by upper/float-14,.contact 24,- conductor 38, terminal 36, conductor 34 and lead 33 back. to, the battery or sour'ce29.

It will be, apparent that as the rocking lever? rocks from one position to the other 1 on: the operation of the, valves 5, 6, the

cooperation of the slottedarms 7 7" and the bent stands-17, 22 partiallyfrotates the floats 1'3, 14 andthe switch-members .18, 23 relatively to the contacts 19, 19- and 24, 24

'- The s witchrmernb em and contacts" are so an ranged, that when one; switch-member is in verticaLalinei-ncnt with its cooperating contacts,- the other switch member is out of vertical alinem'entwith its cooperating contacts-.1 3

The operation of the apparatusis as followszy I 1 Assuin-the neasuringvessel 1 nob efilling.

The :valvesi 5,6 and rocking lever7 will be in the position shown in Figs. and 2 and the switch-.member'18. carried by the lower float 13 will be-on-t of vertical alinement with its cooperatin-g'contacts19, 19? and the switchmelnber 23 carried by the'uppfer' float 14 will be in vertical alinement with its'cooperating contacts 24, 24"f,.asshown bestin Fig. 3.. On

the-chamber l-being filledfand' the float 14 lifted by the liquid which passes into the casing 21, theswitch-member 23 co-acts with the nnderfaces of the upturned ends" of the contacts 24, 24?, thus closing the circuit through the solenoidl12 which raises the valve 6; toi open the outlet 41to the receiving chamber 2,, the valve 5 being simultaneously depressed by the action; of the rocking lever -7 to closet-he inlet 3'. Theinovement of the depressing float lea-game its buoyancy. On

the emptying of receiving chamber 1 the lower float l3 falls and switch-member 18 contactswith" contacts 19, 19 complctin g the circuit through solenoid 11 which then lifts valve 5 to open the inlet 3 and depress valve 6 to close outlet 4. During this movement of the rocking lever 7 the floats are part ally rotated in the vopposite direction, the switchmember 23 being moved into vertical alincment with contacts 24, 24 and switch-member, 18 riding up the inclined ends of contacts l9, l9 against the weight of the float 13, and then disengaging same ,to break the circuit of solenoid 11 simultaneously with the changing over of the valves, as shown in Fig. 4. L

The riding of switch members 18, 23 over the inclined ends of contacts 19, 19 and 24, 24 against the weight of float 13 and buoyancy of float 14, respectively, during the operation of the valves and simultaneous breaking of the circuits of the solenoids 11, 12, keepsthe contacting surfaces clean and insures eflicient electrical contact for the energizing of thesolenoids.

,In order to provide for any slight inequality between the contacts 19, 19 and 24, 24 or any interference with an cflicient electrical contact between the s\vitch-mem bers 18, 23 and the contacts by vibration or inclination of the meter, the switch members may be capable of limited movement 011- their carrying stems 17, 22. Thus, as shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, switch-member 18 may be pivoted ina carrier 25 secured to the stem 17 and provided with projections 26 to limitthe pivotal movement of the switch-member, and, as shown best in Figs. 7 and 8, switch member 23 may be pivoted on stem 22 -and have its movement limited by a stop 27 thereon.-

Vllith. the breaking of the circuits of the solenoids simultaneously with the operation of the valve, as above described, there is no waste of current through the circuits remaining closed until the floats fall or rise sufliciently to open the circuits.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. -.In a meter of the kind referred to, the combinationof inlet and outlet valves, two electro-magnets for moving said valves, two switching members controlling the circuits respectively of said magnets, one of which is normally in position so that when actuated it will close its circuit while the other is out of position to close its circuit, and means whereby upon the movement of a valve the relative condition of the switch members will be reversed. o .2. In a meter of. the kind referred to, the combination of inlet and outlet valves, electro-magnetic means adapted to positively open and close said valves, and means whereby. the movement of the valves by lot said means will also open the circuit of other is closed, and means whereby the said electro-magnetic means. movement of said valves by either magnet 3. In a meter of the kind referred to, the will open the circuit of the actuating 1 combination of an inlet valve and an outlet magnet.- 5 valve, two electro-magnets for opening said In witness whereof I have hereunto set valves respectively, connections between the my hand.

valves whereby when one is opened the WILLIAM BOWDEN.

@opies at this patent may be obtained for Me cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of ratentl, "Washington, D. 0. 

